On August 7, 2019 Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNDX), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing an innovative pipeline of cancer therapies, reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019 (Press release, Syndax, AUG 7, 2019, View Source [SID1234538298]). In addition, the Company provided a clinical and business update. As of June 30, 2019, Syndax had $80.5 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.

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"The FDA’s recent clearance of our IND application for SNDX-5613, a potent, highly selective, oral Menin inhibitor, marks an important milestone not only for Syndax, but also for patients suffering with acute leukemias," said Briggs W. Morrison, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Syndax. "The Menin-MLL interaction has been strongly implicated in the development of MLL-r and NPM1 mutant leukemias. We look forward to initiating the clinical program and anticipate establishing a safe dose that provides appropriate target coverage in patients."

Dr. Morrison added, "We look forward to the near-term completion of E2112, the Phase 3 registration trial of entinostat plus exemestane in HR+, HER2- breast cancer, which we anticipate will occur either in the fourth quarter of 2019 or the first half of 2020. A positive survival benefit at either assessment will enable us to file an NDA with the FDA and take us one step closer to improving outcomes for patients with this difficult to treat disease."

Pipeline Updates

Entinostat

In May 2019, Syndax announced that the E2112 trial passed its fourth interim overall survival (OS) analysis and will continue as planned until either an OS benefit is observed, or the final target number of events occur. E2112 is Syndax’s NCI-sponsored, ECOG-ACRIN led Phase 3 registration trial of entinostat, a Class I selective HDAC inhibitor, plus exemestane in advanced hormone receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HR+, HER2-) breast cancer.

The Company continues to anticipate the final E2112 interim OS analysis in 4Q19. If necessary, the final OS assessment, which will be triggered when the trial reaches a total of 410 death events, is expected to be conducted in 2Q20. A positive OS assessment at any point would enable the Company to file for full regulatory approval. The E2112 trial design was informed by the Phase 2b ENCORE 301 trial, the results of which led to entinostat’s Breakthrough Therapy designation in HR+, HER2- breast cancer, in which patients receiving the entinostat/exemestane combination demonstrated a strong OS benefit.

SNDX-5613

In July 2019, Syndax announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the Company’s Investigational New Drug (IND) application to begin a Phase 1/2 trial for SNDX-5613, a highly selective Menin inhibitor. The Company will refer to the clinical development of SNDX-5613 as the AUGMENT Program. The Phase 1/2 open-label trial will assess orally administered SNDX-5613 in adults with relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute leukemias. The Phase 1 dose escalation portion of the study will evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of SNDX-5613, and will seek to establish a recommended Phase 2 dose. The Phase 2 portion will evaluate efficacy, as defined by Complete Response rate (per International Working Group response criteria), across three expansion cohorts: MLL-rearranged (MLL-r) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), MLL-r acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and NPM1 mutant AML. The Company expects to report initial clinical data from the trial in 2020.

SNDX-6352

Enrollment continues in the Phase 1 dose escalation trial of SNDX-6352, Syndax’s anti-CSF-1R monoclonal antibody, in patients with chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD). The Company now anticipates results from this trial in the second half of 2020. The objectives of this trial are to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of SNDX-6352 in cGVHD and to identify a recommended Phase 2 dose and schedule.

Corporate Updates

Syndax announced the appointment of Michael A. Metzger to its Board of Directors. Mr. Metzger has served as Syndax’s President and Chief Operating Officer since May 2015.

Second Quarter 2019 Financial Results

As of June 30, 2019, Syndax had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $80.5 million and 31.6 million shares and share equivalents issued and outstanding.

Second quarter 2019 research and development expenses decreased to $12.3 million from $14.9 million. The second quarter decrease was primarily due to decreased development activities primarily in the ENCORE programs, and decreased CMC activities associated with SNDX-6352, partially offset by accrued milestone expenses associated with the development of SNDX-5613.

General and administrative expenses for the second quarter 2019 decreased to $3.5 million from $4.5 million. The decrease was primarily due to decreased professional fees and employee compensation expenses.

For the three months ended June 30, 2019, Syndax reported a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $14.9 million or $0.47 per share compared to $18.4 million or $0.74 per share for the prior year period.

Financial Guidance

Today the Company provided operating expense guidance for the third quarter and full year 2019. For the third quarter and full year 2019, research and development expenses are expected to be $11 to $12 million and $45 to $46 million, respectively, and total operating expenses are expected to be $15 to $16 million and $60 to $63 million, respectively.

Conference Call and Webcast

In connection with the earnings release, Syndax’s management team will host a conference call and live audio webcast at 4:30 p.m. ET today, Wednesday, August 7, 2019.

The live audio webcast and accompanying slides may be accessed through the Events & Presentations page in the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.syndax.com. Alternatively, the conference call may be accessed through the following:

Conference ID: 8959885
Domestic Dial-in Number: 855-251-6663
International Dial-in Number: 281-542-4259
Live Webcast: View Source

For those unable to participate in the conference call or webcast, a replay will be available for 30 days on the Investors section of the Company’s website, www.syndax.com.